McCarthy eager to get in the spirit of things

Australia’s most exciting pacer Expensive Ego will kick-start a massive six weeks of Queensland harness racing with a surprise early appearance at Albion Park this Saturday night.

Team McCarthy will also unleash its buzz new pick-up Spirit Of St Louis at the same meeting.

“There are good races for both of them, they are both headed towards The Rising Sun (July 10),” driver Luke McCarthy said.

“The way they are graded, both can run in support races rather than the Lucky Creed (free-for-all) this week.

“Expensive Ego had a private workout at Menangle a week or so back and felt super. He’s ready to go. Spirit Of St Louis went to Goulburn to win his first run for us and it was really like a trial. He’s come on well and we will be out to run some time with him this week to press his case for a spot in The Rising Sun. He’s really exciting us,” McCarthy added.

McCarthy certainly wasn’t worried when stable star King Of Swing had a closer call than expected for his first-up win a Menangle last Saturday night.

“He’s done that before early in a campaign. It’s like he’s smart and only does what he has to,” he said.

“No doubt he’ll strip fitter for the run, but he definitely switched-off and waited for them a bit as well.”

McCarthy said King Of Swing’s pathway to the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake would be finalised early this week.

Excitement continues to build around the Constellations Carnival with three of New Zealand’s biggest pacing names – Copy That, Krug and Amazing Dream – arriving from NZ with some talented travelling companions last Friday.

Also former Miracle Mile winner and top flight Kiwi pacer Spankem was tough winning for new trainer Darren Weeks at Albion Park last Saturday night and is sure to be improved by the outing.

Tough road ahead for Dominion hopefuls

How good will it be to have the Inter Dominion back this year.

It won’t be long until the countdown is in full swing with the first round of heats at Menangle on Saturday, November 27.

But behind the scenes, unrest is growing amongst trainers about the plan to have the second and third round qualifying heats at Bathurst (Wednesday, December 1) and Newcastle (Sunday, December 5) respectively.

I have been contacted this week by several trainers – from Australia and NZ – with concerns about the toll on the horses during what is already a test of the toughest, not always the best, which the Inter Dominion is famous for.

I am all for showcasing our best horses in regional centres, but do trainers have a valid point saying the six to seven-hour return trips to Bathurst and Newcastle in the middle of an already tough racing scheduled is asking too much?

Four runs in two weeks, two major road trips and then what are sure to be hotly contested pacing and trotting finals at the end of it all.

No shock to see star back to his best

Don’t miss the return of gifted WA pacer Shockwave in what promises to be a strong Winter Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Ryan Bell’s budding star hasn’t raced since having a “bleed” in the Fremantle Cup las November, but Bell hinted it could have been a blessing in disguise.

“I’m sure he’s come back better … stronger and more mature,” he said.

“He could’ve run last week, but I decided to wait. We’ve got some good depth in our open-class here, but I’m sure he’s as good as any of them when he’s right.”

If Shockwave returns as well as Bell expects, he’ll head to Melbourne in September for some lead-up racing before the Victoria Cup and then onto Sydney for the Inter Dominion.

Hopefully Mighty Conqueror, who resumed with a monstrous Gloucester Park win last Friday night, Chicago Bull and others back-up against Shockwave to give us a superb Winter Cup this week.

“We thought we had him right back to his best after trying a few different things at home, like a lot of saddle work. That was the old Mighty Conqueror, so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here,” co-trainer Greg Bond said.

Bold tactics signature for Alford

Watching Chris Alford at his best is a thing of beauty.

Alford’s drive on former NSW Derby winner Max Delight in the Italian Cup at Melton last Saturday night was a prime example.

Having his first drive on the five-year-old in his 38-start career, Alford showed the daring, aggressiveness and judgement which has him at the very top of Australasia’s driving ranks.

In the space of 250m, Alford went from last around to first and that was effectively ‘race over’.

The other Melton eye-catcher was exciting trotting mare Keayang Livana, who returned from a spell and stormed home to win he G3 La Coocaracha free-for-all, making it five wins on end and 11 wins from her 22 starts.

By Adam Hamilton for Sky Racing